Seeking to expand development, the Los Angeles City Council on
Wednesday asked the state to approve increasing the size of the
Northeast Valley Enterprise Zone.

The council asked that the zone be enlarged by 15 percent to
include the areas around the Panorama Towers and San Fernando Road in
Sun Valley.

Under the program, businesses that locate within an enterprise zone
and hire local residents are eligible for tax breaks.

- Daily News

Burbank to appeal decision on airport

With no end in sight for the legal battle over Burbank
Airport's expansion, the city of Burbank announced Wednesday that
it will appeal a judge's ruling that the city forfeited its veto
power over the new terminal project.

The city disputes Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carl J.
West's Feb. 11 ruling that Burbank gave up its right to review
expansion when it approved the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport
Authority's formation in the late 1970s.

Attorneys filed the appeal with the Second District Court of Appeal
this week, but it may take months before the appellate court rules on
West's decision, said Peter Kirsch, special counsel to the city on
airport matters.

- Daily News

LAPD to intensify focus on recidivism

The LAPD will intensify its focus on arresting career criminals
involved in violent crime, and step up efforts to reduce traffic
accidents, according to an administrative order released Wednesday by
Police Chief Bernard C. Parks.

The 1998 Department Initiatives report also calls for the
department to continue community policing efforts, improve relationships
with other agencies in the criminal justice system and improve
productivity by expanding the use of modern technology.

``It's basically a guideline for our civilian and sworn
personnel about what our priorities are,'' Parks told
reporters at his monthly media open house.

Parks also said he is ``very pleased,'' with the
mayor's proposed budget for the Los Angeles Police Department for
next year, adding ``we believe it is more than adequate.''

- Daily News

Council OKs plan for police parking

The City Council voted Wednesday to approve a proposal to spend
$400,000 per year to lease parking spaces for LAPD employees being
displaced by the construction of a dispatch center on the site of a
parking garage next to Parker Center police headquarters.

Although City Councilwoman Laura Chick has questioned the
additional cost of building the dispatch center downtown instead of in
Westchester, the council granted the General Services Department
authority to execute the leases.

- Daily News

Student to compete in St. Louis debate

Ryan Hayden, a Tarzana resident and senior at Loyola High School in
Los Angeles, qualified in the Lincoln-Douglas debate category to
represent the West Los Angeles District in the National Forensic League Tournament in St. Louis in June.

Hayden, a graduate of St. Mel School in Woodland Hills, was
undefeated in all six rounds of the competition.

- Daily News

Center event puts spotlight on kids

PACOIMA - The Hillery T. Broadous Children's Center held an
open house Wednesday to celebrate the Week of the Young Child.

More than 60 school children, elected leaders and community
activists attended the daylong event, which featured skits and
presentations by children at the center.

The center, next door to Broadous Elementary, serves 125 children
ages 2 through 8. Fees are based on family income.

Principal Barbara Malone said recognizing children and their
accomplishments are key to their emotional and physical development.

- Daily News

Authorities pursue spouse in stabbing

PANORAMA CITY - A man is suspected of stabbing his estranged wife
in a hallway of an apartment building Wednesday morning, leaving the
woman hospitalized in critical condition.

The man, whose name was not released, fled before officers arrived.
The woman was taken to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center.

- City News Service

Cosby blackmailer begins prison term

DUBLIN, Calif. - Autumn Jackson, convicted of trying to extort $40
million from comedian Bill Cosby by claiming to be his out-of-wedlock
daughter, reported to a federal prison Wednesday to begin serving a
26-month sentence.

Jackson, a Canyon Country resident six months' pregnant with
twin boys, turned herself in at the Federal Correctional Institution in
Dublin at about 1:20 p.m., said Dominic Gutierrez Sr., executive
assistant at the three-tiered prison.

She will remain there for 30 days before moving to a prison
maternity program in San Francisco, about 30 miles to the west, said her
New York attorney, Robert Baum.

- Associated Press

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